Combined can-top holder and marker.



A. POHJANEN.

GOMBINED CAN TOP HOLDER AND MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1912.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

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AUGUSTI POHJANEN, OF ASTORIA, OREGON.

COMBINED CAN-TOP HOLDER AND MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 1,1912.

Application filed June 6, 1912. Serial No. 702,101.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUs'ri POHJANEN, a citizen of Finland, residing at Astoria, in the county of Clatsop and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Can-Top Holders and Markers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in marking or branding dies.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined top receiving and pushing spindle and branding die having a plurality of marking elements operable to differently stamp or mark cans or packages containing different grades of goods, and which is especially designed for marking canned fish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single die of this class equipped with a variety of marking elements adjustable to adapt a package to be stamped with one or more marks, as may be desired.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and operation of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section of this improved can top receiver and marker; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the marking elements. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective end view of the marking end of the device.

In the embodiment illustrated, a combined can top holder and marker is shown in the form of a hollow spindle 1, such as is used in sanitary can closing machines for receiving and pushing a can top and holding the same in proper position before the can is moved up by the lower pad of the machine. This bar or spindle 1 is operated automatically by a lever (not shown), and has heretofore been made solid. To adapt this spindle for use as a marker as well as a can top holder, the spindle has been made hollow and provided on its interior with a plurality of longitudinally adjustable marking elements 2, any desired number of which may be employed, four being here shown. To guide these marking elements in their passage through the spindle a centrally disposed core 3 is shown having grooves in its side walls to permit the ready passage of the marking elements between the core and the side of the spindle. These marking elements are shown in the form of stiff wires having one end screw threaded, said screw threaded end being here shown of larger size than the main body portion of the wire. This screw threaded portion of the wire is adjustably mounted in a laterally extending arm 4 of a hook-shaped adjusting member .5. This screw threaded end of the wire 2 is preferably provided with two nuts 6 and 7 arranged on opposite sides of the arm 4 for locking the wire in adjusted position on said arm to vary the extent of projection of said wire or marking element beyond the end of the spindle which engages the can top.

A hollow head 8 of larger size than the spindle 1 is preferably mounted on the end opposite the can top engaging end, and is designed to receive the screw threaded ends of the marking elements. This head 8 is provided with a plurality of series of longitudinally spaced apertures 9 to receive the hooked ends of the adjusting members 5 with which the screw threaded ends of the marking elements are engaged. These adjusting members 5 are arranged in the desired aperture in the head 8 to cause the end of the marking element to project beyond the opposite end of the spindle when it is desired to be used. As many of these elements may be projected as it is desired to brand marks on the can top, for instance, if one mark is desired, one wire or element 2 is projected; if two marks are to be made, two wires are projected, and so on. These marks are intended to designate the different grades of fish or other material packed in the cans, for instance, one grade of fish will be in cans with no mark on the top; another grade with one mark which is produced by proj ecting one of the marking elements beyond the can top engaging end of the spindle, consequently by the diiierent marks on the can tops the packers and others are enabled to tell at a glance the different grades of fish in each. As shown, this head 8 has four series of apertures arranged around its periphery at suitable distances, and each series comprises two longitudinally spaced apertures. When the marking elements are desired to be thrown into operation the hook of the member 5 is inserted in the inner aperture of the series, and when they are intended to be withdrawn the hook is inserted in the outer aperture. It will thus be observed that the markers may be very quickly changed, thereby rendering the device especially desirable for work of this nature.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A can top marker comprising a spindle, marking elements carried thereby and composed of still wires having adjusting members adjustably connected with one end thereof, and means for engagement by said adjusting members for locking said marking elements in operative or inoperative position.

2. A can top marker comprising a hollow spindle having a hollow head at one end thereof, a plurality of marking elements operable longitudinally in said spindle and adapted to be projected beyond the end opposite the head carrying end, hook-shaped members connected to the inner end of said elements, and longitudinally spaced means on said head for engagement by said hookshaped members for locking said elements in adjusted position.

3. A combined can top holder and marker comprising a hollow spindle having a plurality of marking rods longitudinally movable therein and adapted to be projected beyond one end thereof, and cooperating means at the other end of said spindle and 011 said rods for locking the rods in projected or withdrawn position.

4. A combined can top holder and marker comprising a hollow spindle having a plurality of marking elements longitudinally movable therein and adapted to be projected beyond one end thereof, hook-shaped members having laterally extending arms adjustably connected with said marking elements, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in said head for engagement by said hook-shaped members to lock said marking elements in projected or withdrawn position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTI POHJANEN. \Vitnesses:

HANS HULLULA, J. O. ERTCKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

